PURCHASE BOOK
Voices of Wisdom Hawaiian Elders Speak
was first printed in 1999, then reprinted numerous times until 2014 when ebook and pdf versions trumped print. Most print copies have long since sold out, except for a rare last 20 books still held by the author.
VOW was the national first place winner of the “IPPY” (Independent Publishers) Award, besting cultural books from many of America’s biggest university presses. The writing, the book’s design and the Hawaiian subject matter were cited for the win.
Our ebook design is simpler than the pdf version, but the writing is the same, and the ebook version is modern and includes at least one photo of each Hawaiian interviewed. Both Amazon (Kindle) and Barnes & Noble (Nook) sell the ebook.
The pdf version, sold on this website, retains the original award-winning design of the printed book, and it has 14 more photos than the ebook.
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Voices of Wisdom Hawaiian Elders Speak
was first printed in 1999, then reprinted numerous times until 2014 when ebook and pdf versions trumped print. Most print copies have long since sold out, except for a rare last 20 books still held by the author.
Voices of Wisdom was the national first place winner of the “IPPY” (Independent Publishers) Award, besting cultural books from many of America’s biggest university presses. The writing, the book’s design and the Hawaiian subject matter were cited for the win.
Our ebook design is simpler than the pdf version, but the writing is the same, and the ebook version is modern and includes at least one photo of each Hawaiian interviewed. Both Amazon (Kindle) and Barnes & Noble (Nook) sell the ebook.
The pdf version, sold on this website, retains the original award-winning design of the printed book, and it has 14 more photos than the ebook.
BOOK REVIEWS
“Each chapter represents an encounter—and I mean a good, rich, insightful, thought-provoking encounter —with a different member of this heroic generation.”
Haleakala Times
“Harden has done what scholars often find so difficult: making the past exciting and smoothly linking it to the present.”
The Maui News
“Despite their different areas of expertise, the elders all convey a sense of aloha . . . They love what they do, and they want others to share in their joy.”
Hawai’i Magazine
“These modern-day kahuna have spent their lives preserving Hawaii’s ancient traditions, and they are eager to pass on their wisdom.”
Honolulu Magazine
“Each chapter represents an encounter—and I mean a good, rich, insightful, thought-provoking encounter —with a different member of this heroic generation.”
Haleakala Times
“Harden has done what scholars often find so difficult: making the past exciting and smoothly linking it to the present.”
The Maui News
“Despite their different areas of expertise, the elders all convey a sense of aloha . . . They love what they do, and they want others to share in their joy.”
Hawai’i Magazine
“These modern-day kahuna have spent their lives preserving Hawaii’s ancient traditions, and they are eager to pass on their wisdom.”
Honolulu Magazine
OUR TEAM
MJ HARDEN
AUTHOR
It was an honor to be entrusted with these cultural stories, but it was not easy. These are Hawaii’s top Hawaiians and getting them to talk about themselves and their life’s work took three years of back and forth—talking, writing, more interviewing and finally putting these people in print. Once done, the work won 1st Place in the National Independent Publishers Awards. And, the book was written none too soon. This generation, “the keepers of the flame,” are going and gone.
After publishing VOW, MJ was asked to write a documentary film on Hawaiian history and culture which was Hawaii’s cultural presentation at the opening of the Smithsonian’s new American Indian Museum. The hour-long film is “The Hawaiians, Reflecting Spirit.”
As a journalist on Maui, MJ wrote and published a feature magazine for Maui residents and started an arts and cultural magazine for Maui’s cultural center, and she wrote a monthly magazine for Maui’s hospital. She also wrote a Maui travel guide which won Hawaii’s “Best New Guidebook” award.
STEVE BRINKMAN
PHOTOGRAPHER
After graduating from Art Center College of Design in photography, Steve moved back to Hawai‘i where he had previously earned his undergrad degree. In 1984 he opened a photo studio on Maui where he generally works with commercial clients. His photos have been published both nationally and internationally.